Commodity display rack



May 19, 1953 R. R. VIISENHQURI 2,638,692

COMMODITY DISPLAY RACK Filed Dec. 12, 1947 3 Sheets-Shea}. 1

M? k L) ATTORNEYS,

y 1953 R. R. ISENHOUR 2,638,692

COMMODITY DISPLAY RACK Filed D80. 12, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS y1953 "R. R. ISENHOUR COMMODITY DISPLAY RACK 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec.12, 1947 INVENTOR .3 1:3.Bem7zou7 ATTORNEYS Patented May 19, 1953ooMMopITY DISPLAY RACK RnscellR. Isenhour,,Geneva,-N. 'ftpplicatlorrfiecemher 12, 1947; SerlaPNo; 791,258

' l 1 cam (01. 40-425.),

This invention relates to commodity racks designed primarily for use insupporting and displaying cans of lubricating oif at service stations.

An importantbbiectof the. invention is to provide a rack of thischaracter, which is so constructedthat it cannot be-used byunauthorizedpersons without detection.

A further-object. ot. the: invention is to provide a rack having anidentificatiom plate: secured along the top thereof, which plate canonly be removed and the rack converted for use. other than the use forwhichthe melt has been. originally designed, by mutilating the plate orrack to a point. toattract-attentiom and: indicate theft.

A still further obiect. of the invention is to provide at collapsiblerack. may be folded into a small and.- compact: article to facilitatethe shipping and. storing of the rack.

Still another obiecttoff the invention is to pro-- vide. a: rack: withremovable and interlocking and advertising. plates. disposed at. the endthereof, whereby the advertising medium may be varied to meet therequirements ofi'use:

With the foregoing and. other objects in viewwhich. wilt. appear as the.description proceeds,

the invention consists of certain novel details of construction andcombinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed outin the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in theconstruction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spiritof the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a rack constructed inaccordancewith the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the rack in its folded condition.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental elevational view partly in section, illustratingthe connection between the pivoted legs forming the end members of therack.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view partly in section, illustrating the meansfor locking the identification plates to the stand.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken online (-4 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8--8 of Fig. -6.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 99 of Fig. '6.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line l0lll of Fig. 2.

Rieferring to the-drawings in detail, the rack comprises identical endmembers 5, each end member comprising pivotally connected legs formed".of lengthsof angle barmaterial, the open sidesthereofbeing disposedinwardly presenting smooth outer snrfacesto which the pivoted bars 6'are connected, the-bars 6 being of various lengths to spread thebars-ofthe end members in: a manner-asshownby Fig-. 20i the drawings.mic and of each. of the. pivoted bars I6 is removably secured to oneofIthelegs of the'end member of which it forms-a part, and isheld'inposition. by meansof the wing not I: that is secured on the;threaded: end of the bolt 8 that extends through the end member and:pivoted bar. The opposite ends: of. the bares. are pivotallyconnectedto. one of the legs or the" end member so that thesepivotedbars are securely held to -the leg members at all times. Asshown, portions of the flanges of the angle bars of which the endmembers are constructed, are cut away and formed-with openings-throughwhich the' rivets Q extend, the rivets 9 constituting. the pivot-he'-tween the angleabars of the end members and at the same time providing.means, for securing the pivoted bars l0 to the upper ends of the endmembers. These bars III are formed with lugs II that fit into recesses12 formed on the end members, the lugs snapping into position as thebars ID are swung upwardly, thereby holding the bars II) in verticalpositions under normal conditions. Cross arms I3 are secured to thelower ends of the bars H3 and provide handles by means of which the rackmay be carried.

The reference character N indicates the identification plate of therack, the plate being supplied with suitable lettering, preferablyindicating the brand of oil contained in the cans displayed, and thename of the owner of the service station, where the commodity is sold.The identification plate M has its ends bent upon itself to providetubular end portions, the bars Ill being provided with downwardly andinwardly extended ears l6 that cooperate with upwardly and outwardlyextended ears ll formed on the inner section 18 of the locking bars IS.

The tubular end portions l5 are also provided with downwardly andinwardly extended cars 29 that cooperate with upwardly and outwardlyextended ears 2| formed on the locking bar 19, below the ears l1. Thusit will be seen that due to this construction when the tubular endportions of the identification plate are positioned over the bars l0 andthe locking bars 19 forced between .the tubular end portions and barsHi, the cooperating ears will interengage in such a way as to preventthe identification plate from being pulled upwardly and being removedwithout mutilating or cutting the tubular end portions, which would, ofcourse, render them conspicuous, indicating theft.

The shelves which connect the end members of the rack, are indicated bythe reference character 22, each shelf being provided with asubstantially tubular end 23, the tubular ends 23 of the shelves beingslightly flattened so that they will closely fit over the pivoted bars6, the bars 6 being forced into the tubular ends where they remainsecured to the bars.

In forming the tubular ends 23, the sheet material of which the shelvesare formed, is bent upon itself in such away as to provide anelonchanging of the plates."

It might be further stated that certain of-the bars 6 are formedwith'notches 26 that fit over the pins 21, securing thelegs of the endbarstogether, when the device is folded. From the foregoingfit will beseen that due to the construction shown and described, I have provided arack for supporting and displaying cans of lubricating oil or similarcommodities, so that the attendants of a service station will have easyaccess thereto, and the commodity will be displayed to an advantage.

It will further be seen that because of the manner of securing theidentification plate to the rack, it would be impossible for theidentification plate to be removed by unauthorized persons withoutmultilating the rack to a degree to indicate theft or unauthorized use.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A commodity display rack comprising a frame including end members,vertically swinging bars pivotally connected with the frame rising fromthe end members, an identification plate having its ends bent inwardlyproviding tubular end portions fitted over the vertically swinging bars,downwardly disposed tongues punched outwardly from the endzbars, tonguespunched outwardly from the walls ofthe tubular end portions and disposedupwardly, the extreme ends of the downwardly disposed tongues of thevertically swinging bars abutting the extreme ends of the upwardlydisposed tongues of the tubular end portions preventing upward movementof said plate on the end members, and portions of the walls of thetubular end portions overlying said tongues guarding said tongues.

RUSSELL ISENHOUR.

References Cited in the file or this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS NumberName Date 466,926 Bartlett Jan. 12, 1892 614,432 Austin Nov. 22, 1898648,402 v Haarmann et a1. May 1, 1900 657,661 ,Kinnear Sept. 11, 1900839,501 Munro Dec. 25, 1906 914,685 Waters Mar. 9, 1909 1,040,270Bryning s Oct. 8, 1912 1,629,229 Sharp May 17, 1927 1,832,775v HallowellNOV. 17, 1931 1,909,223 Roos May 16, 1933 1,911,916 Menamin 1 May 30,1933 1,928,527 Fortinberry. Sept. 26, 1933 2,295,444 Woodward-"44" Sept.8, 1942 2,338,968 Robinson et a1. i Jan. 11, 1944 2,380,916 Beal Aug. 7,1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number I Country Date Switzerland July 31, 1893

